Get Stains Out Of Grout

By Matt Oden | Comments | Tile and Ceramic Stains

To effectively get stains out of grout, you need to know what kind of stains you are working with and also be aware of the condition of the grout that you are dealing with. Some grout, after many years of neglect, is often not worth trying to clean because it is so badly damaged and crumbly. But if the grout is in fairly good shape then you can quickly get to work on removing the stains. You’ll be surprised at just how wonderful your tiles will look with refreshed and stain-free grout.

Tiles are a wonderful addition to a home. They make a lovely flooring solution for any room the house, they are a charming addition to any kitchen, and they can be a nice practical addition to a bathroom. The unfortunate side of having tiles though is the grout between them. If the grout has not been effectively sealed after installation, and not sealed periodically after that, you’ll find yourself with some really unsightly stains. The good news is that it is fairly simple to get stains out of grout and give a facelift to your tiles.

Get Mildew Stains Out Of Grout

What You Will Need Before You Start

White vinegar
Baking soda
Heavy-duty scrubbing brush

For someone who is obsessed with keeping their bathroom a pristine spot in their home, there is nothing more irritating than discovering unsightly mildew stains on the tile grout. It can seem like endless scrubbing just doesn’t get you anywhere, so you may be tempted to just simply give up! Don’t give up! The problem is often not that the stain is impossible to get out, but that you are simply using the wrong cleaning tools and methods to get stains out of grout in your bathroom.

Remove any dirt and soap scum from the tiles before working on the grout. A really useful cleaning solution for all surfaces of your bathroom is two drops of liquid dish detergent to every 2 cups of white vinegar.

Create a paste using white vinegar and baking soda. Take care when combining the two products because they do tend to react in a bubbling mess together. If you mix them slowly then you’ll soon find that the bubbling settles down to a paste that has the consistency of pudding.
Using a sponge, or your hands wearing cleaning gloves, apply the cleaning paste directly to the stained tiles.
Using your scrubbing brush, give the grout a good scrub with the cleaning paste.
Rinse clear after a few minutes and you should see a noticeable difference in the appearance of the grout.
Repeat as necessary, until the mildew stains have been thoroughly removed from the grout.

There are a lot of bleach based cleaning products that can also do the job really nicely. But if you will be using bleach in a confined space, it is important to crack a window or turn on the overheat exhaust fans so that the fumes don’t get to you. The vinegar and baking soda is a traditional cleaning solution that works though! Why mess with something that has been proven effective for decades?

Get Accumulated Dirt Stains Out Of Grout

What You Will Need Before You Start

Hydrogen peroxide
Scrubbing brush
Clean rags

To refresh the look of your tile floors, you should make every effort to get rid of the years of accumulated dirt and grime before you reseal the grout. While no one likes to get in their hands and knees to scrub floors clean, the good news is that once you get stains out of grout and reseal the grout, you won’t have to repeat this for at least 3-5 years! Try to avoid using hydrogen peroxide on grout that is very dark, as this could permanently discolor it.

Add one cup of hydrogen peroxide for every cup of hot water used, and using your scrubbing brush, get busy on that grout.
Wipe the muddy mess that comes free from the grout, using the clean rags.
Stains that are providing to be stubborn can benefit from a good soaking solution of the hydrogen peroxide and hot water. Simply soak a rag or towel in your cleaning solution and then place it directly onto the stain for a few minutes.
Once the grout has been thoroughly cleaned, give it a good once-over with hot water and vinegar to completely clean the entire floor before sealing it.

Steam is also very effective when you need to get stains out of grout. You could use a hand-held steam pressure washer that is approved for use indoors, or you could use a steam mop. The steam will quickly break down the accumulated dirt, while the mop’s pad will help to lift the mess away from your floors.

Get Food Stains Out Of Grout

What You Will Need Before You Start

Bleach
Scrubbing brush
Clean rags or towels

Food stains and porous grout is practically a recipe for a breeding ground for bacteria and other nasty things best not discussed in polite company. When dealing with food stains and the need to disinfect well, you are often best served resorting to using bleach.

Make a cleaning solution of 1 part bleach to 3 parts hot water. You can either keep it in a spray bottle, or just make a small amount of it to be used for cleaning your kitchen counters or floors. A spray bottle is easier, however.
Completely saturate the stain with your bleach solution and, wearing cleaning gloves, start to scrub the grout well.
As the food stains start to lift out of the grout, wipe them clean using your rags or towels.
Repeat as necessary until the grout is once again hygienic and positively gleaming!

When working with bleach, be sure to always thoroughly rinse the surface before using it to prepare food. And, never ever mix bleach or ammonia when you are cleaning, as the result can be noxious fumes that are a huge hazard to your health.

A hand-held pressure steam cleaner can also help to get stains out of grout, especially food stains. Just be aware that you are working with steam and it can absolutely result in painful burns.

Get Marker And Pen Stains Out Of Grout

What You Will Need Before You Start

Rubbing alcohol
Clean sponge
Scrubbing brush
Clean rags

Give a toddler a marker or a pen and it never fails – he will put bright red marker on the white grout on your kitchen floor! Before you lose your cool however, it is a fairly simply task to get stains out of grout when marker and pen are to blame for it.

Clean the tile of other dirt and grime so that you are working with a nice clean surface.
Dab a bit of rubbing alcohol onto your clean sponge, or you can use a cotton swab if you are just working with a very small area.
Scrub at the stain if it is not lifting up with just the initial application of rubbing alcohol.
Blot clear with the clean rags and repeat until you have completely removed the stain.

Keep in mind that the hand-held steam cleaners are also very effective at getting marker and pen stains out of grout. They can also quickly break down crayon and paints; meaning that you just need to do a quick wipe down of the surface after the scalding steam has been allowed to do its job.